Film analysis - American Beauty Presentation of the film In the start of the movie we get a presentation, when Lester tells about life in the suburbs, while the camera passes over all the villas. In the episode where Ricky is filming Jane, we see what it’s going to end up with. We see deepening of Ricky and Jane's relationship and their love to each other and at the same time in what Lester life evolves and by becoming more conscious of himself, and does what he wants. The Point of no return, we find when Carolyn gets a compared to Buddy, and thereby must realize that it is not as it once was. Another example of the point of no return is when Lester quit his job, and gets a job on a junk food restaurant. It's a big step to take, as Lester because he can’t just change, if he regrets it. Conflict escalation occurs just as slowly between Lester and Carolyn when they start using bad language to each other. We find the climax, the major conflict that occurs, however, at the dinner table, where Lester finally throws a plate of beans into the wall, so the plate smashed. Given that Jane takes so much distance to her parents that Carolyn has an affair and Lester lives his own life, one gets a clear impression of the family is well on its way to being dissolved. Identity is a concept that I think is important to have with when you talk about the theme of the film, the concept of identity is very highlighted and exaggerated in the movie, so you can understand what the movie is basically about. Let us take an example as Angela. Her way of being, is extreme. I don’t think there are many girls of reality, but we must be able to understand the film point, it is important that individuals are exaggerated, and it I think that applies to all characters in the film. Another theme could be beauty. What is beauty? There are many ways to define beauty, and it is also evident in the film. Example defines Carolyn concept of beauty with wealth and a perfect look, while Ricky defines beauty with the uncontrolled and unexplained. Conclusion We can conclude that American Beauty is a film, which engages beauty in all its forms. In the film there are examples of the false beauty that Carolyn grows and the sincere beauty, which Ricky grow. As the audience was immediately distance to Carolyn way to see the beauty, and you hold immediately with Ricky's way of interpreting beauty on. As the audience we are getting busy thinking about what values in life you value most, and trying to determine where to find the key values. The film has many different messages and interpretations, but the point must be that we must live our lives as tomorrow is the last day, we are alive. Characterization of the main character Lester: Lester feels almost oppressed by his wife Carolyn, which in many ways decide how life in the house should be and act as the dominant in the house. Lester decides to redirect his life, and going in a teenage rebellion against Carolyn and the hideous life, he lived for several years. He behaves childish and disrespectful, but even so, it's him, we have pity with though he actually behaves unacceptably. Carolyn: Carolyn is a perfectionist. She develops a relationship with Buddy Kane, who next to Lester is perfect in her eyes, but really he's just a superficial, rich snob who does not have some human values. But he has, a lot of money and high status, and that is what counts most for Carolyn. Jane: Jane is a rather typical teenager who is very mediocre, meaning that, she not stands out in any way. Like a typical teenager, she is in turmoil. The rebellion can be compared with the rebel Lester is going through. Jane has virtually no relationship with her parents. She perceives her father as a pervert, and can’t get along with either him or Carolyn. Ricky: Ricky has not always had it easy. He grew up with a parenting that has called for tough rules and discipline. This has obviously influenced Ricky's behavior, but not necessarily in a negative direction. Ricky is very philosophical in his behavior and doesn’t much. Frank: Frank is the father of Ricky. Frank is a former army colonel, and although he is no longer, he behaves increasingly like a military man at home. He is so selfish, callous and controlling towards his surroundings to his wife, Babara, is so repressed that she almost is completely inhuman. Something Frank definitely will not see his son as, is a homosexual. But something no one other than Lester finds out is that Frank himself actually is gay, and it is something he is ashamed off so much that he is forced to kill Lester, to keep his pride. So like Carolyn, Frank also has a facade. Deep down, he's just a miserable soul who finds it very difficult to see truth in fear of his pride and toughness will be lost. Angela: Angela is Jane's friend and Lester's dream girl. Angela's behavior is very influenced by her attempt to be the attractive and just attractive, she is in Lester's eyes, but in Ricky's eyes she is mediocre and boring, and it does sincerely hurt her when he said it to her after an argument with Jane. Angela has, as both Carolyn and Frank, a facade. Angela's facade is built on lies about her sexuality, and the attempt to be the one who has tried most. Angela's behavior is extremely selfish and she is like someone we normally would call a "bitch".

Essay ”My name is Lester Burnham. This is my neighborhood. This is my street. This… Is my life. I’m forty-two years old. In less than a year I’ll be dead.” This is how the main character presents him in the voice over that starts the movie American Beauty. We find ourselves in an attractive suburban neighborhood, where Lester lives with his wife Carolyn and their teenage daughter Jane. Lester is a despairing writer in the commercial business, Carolyn is an ambitious real estate agent, and they have a cold and loveless marriage. In the midst of this marriage, their daughter Jane thinks of them as being absolute idiots, especially Lester who she sees as a raunchy old failure. Lester experiences quite a turning point in his otherwise boring and uninteresting life, when he during a cheerleader-show sees Jane’s sexy friend Angela. He becomes fascinated and mesmerized by her and starts fantasizing about her lying naked in a profusion of rose petals. When Lester meets their new neighbors’ son Ricky, who secretly earns his money by selling drugs, his life takes yet another turn: He resigns from his dreary job and becomes determined to relive his adolescence. For instance, he trades his boring old, ugly car in for a cool red car, he turns the garage into his own sanctuary, where he listens to the music of his youth, smokes joints, and lifts dumbbells whilst dreaming dreams about Angela and roses. One night Angela pays Jane a visit. When she flirts with Lester, it culminates into a hefty argument between the two girls. The argument is interrupted, when a beat-up Ricky walks in. He has had a final encounter with his violent and extremely troubled and perplexed father, the Colonel. Ricky now wants to run off to New York and he wants Jane to come with him. Meanwhile, Lester is in the garage training. Suddenly, he sees the Colonel standing frozen in the rain. Lester invites him in, and as Lester begins to help him of with his soaked clothes, The Colonel kisses Lester. Lester freezes in shock and pushes the Colonel away, who baffled stagger back in the rain. When Lester re-enters, Angela is sitting alone in the living room. Lester kisses her and undresses her. Angela, who is very nervous, tells Lester that she is a virgin. Lester is astounded by it – in the wink of an eye, the woman of his dreams has been transformed into a nervous and scared child. He comforts Angela, who is now crying, and makes her some food in the kitchen. When Angela goes to the bathroom, Lester sits smiling, while he is studying an old photo of himself, Carolyn, and Jane. The barrel of a gun them rises up aiming at his skull, and in the very next second he is dead. After this, we see Lester’s life pass in review, and where the other characters in the movie are in the moment of crime at the same time. We see the Colonel covered in blood; he is the killer. Then the movie ends with Lester’s words: “… and then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can’t feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life… You have no idea what I’m talking about, I’m sure. But don’t worry… You will someday.”